Michael Connor, Navy Vice Admiral, Calls For Submarine Commanders' Autonomy GROTON, Conn. — It sounds like the premise of a Tom Clancy novel: A cyberbattle is fought to a draw, leaving U.S. submarines to continue fighting with limited contact to headquarters. But the three-star admiral in charge of the Navy's submarine force says the scenario is all too possible, and he is calling for a renewed emphasis on the independence ingrained in skippers during days of more primitive technology.

Vice Adm. Michael Connor said in a recent interview that he is reaffirming that autonomy as he cultivates commanding officers who can operate with little direct guidance from above.

"It goes far back in our history, but my concern is that if you look at the capabilities that various countries have, there's one path where the future could look very much like the past," he told The Associated Press. "I've been making sure that we're ready to fight that way if it comes to it."